LATTER  DAY  SAINTS 
WHO  ARE  THEY? 


BY  ELDER  T.  W.  WILLIAMS 


ENSIGN  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 
INDEPENDENCE,  MQ. 


The  Latter  Day  Saints;  Who  Are  They? 

ELDER  T.  W.  WILLIAMS. 

Who  are  the  Latter  Day  Saints?  What  do  they  believe? 
Are  they  Mormons? 

These  are  inquiries  often  propounded  and  frequently 
answered  by  many  whose  minds  are  prejudiced  through  igno- 
rance, and  who  are  thus  utterly  incapable  of  giving  proper 
information. 

It  is  a  fair  proposition  that  every  individual  has  the  right 
to  state  his  own  case  before  his  belief  is  condemned  and  his 
position  judged  faulty  or  erroneous. 

The  Latter  Day  Saints  come  to  you  with  a  divine  message. 
Their  position  is  either  true  or  false.  If  true,  you  can  not  afford 
to  ignore  it. 

Solomon  said,  "He  that  answereth  a  matter  before  he 
heareth  it,  it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him."  No  man  can  afford 

to  be  ignorant  when  it  is  within  his  power  to  be  informed 
correctly. 

To  arrive  at  proper  conclusions,  men  must  understand  both 
sides  of  a  controversy.  And  yet  it  is  evident  to  every  student  of 
history  that  the  human  family  has  reluctantly  considered  any 
proposition  conflicting  with  its  pet  theories  and  preconceived 
ideas.  Why  should  any  man  fear  investigation  if  he  is  in  the 
right?  Why  appeal  to  prejudice?  Why  resort  to  persecution? 
This,  however,  has  always  been  the  method  of  warfare  against 
the  truth. 

The  power  of  public  opinion  in  governing  individual  action 
has  been  one  of  the  chief  obstacles  to  £he  expansion  of  truth. 
No  sooner  has  a  new  doctrine  been  presented  than  the  cry  is 
raised,  "Away  with  it."  Truth  must  come  in  contact  with  the 
traditions  of  men.  Truth  has  won  and  will  continue  to  win 
its  way  into  the  hearts  of  honest,  God-fearing  people.  But 
how  difficult  it  is  to  reach  a  man  steeled  against  further  investi- 
gation, and  who  is  entrenched  behind  the  walls  of  prejudice 
with  which  the  bigot  ever  surrounds  himself! 

The  press  and  pulpit  are  largely  responsible  for  the  general 
misconception  as  to  the  position  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints.  All 
kinds  of  evil  reports  and  malicious  slanders  have  been  against 
them.  Orthodox  ministers  have  ever  been  ready  to  prejudice 
the  minds  of  the  masses,  without  opportunity  being  afforded  us 
to  present  our  defense.  We  welcome  the  growing  tendency  to 
give  us  fair  play,  and  feel  confident  that  the  name  of  "Latter 
Day  Saint"  will  soon  be  respected  the  world  over. 

NAME. 

Some  people  do  not  care  to  know  who  the  Latter  Day 
Saints  are,  or  what  they  believe.  Do  you?  The  moment  the 


2  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

term  "Latter  Day  Saint"  is  mentioned,  many  exclaim,  "Oh, 
the  Mormons,  we  want  nothing  to  do  with  them!" 

The  true  Latter  Day  Saints  are  not  "Mormons."  This 
was  a  nickname  given  them  by  their  enemies.  When  the  de- 
fection as  to  church  government  and  morals  was  made  by 
Brigham  Young  in  1844,  the  name  followed  his  adherents  and 
they  did  not  repudiate  it.  To-day  it  is  used  as  a  synonym  for 
polygamy  and  all  the  evils  perpetrated  in  Utah  in  the  name  of 
religion. 

There  are  two  distinct,  separate  churchse  bearing  this  name: 
one  is  known  as  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day 
Saints,  commonly  called  "Mormons,"  with  headquarters  at 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  the  other  is  the  Reorganized  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  with  headquarters  at 
Lamoni,  Iowa. 

It  may  be  asked,  "Why  bear  this  name?" 

First.  The  term  saint  is  a  God-given  name,  applied  to  his 
children  in  different  ages  of  the  world. 

Second.  According  to  Bible  prophecy  we  are  now  living 
in  the  "latter  days,"  hence  if  saints  we  are  "Latter  Day  Saints." 

Third.  The  term  Christian  was  a  name  of  derision  applied 
to  the  early  disciples  at  Antioch,  A.  D.  43.  Will  the  advocat  es 
for  the  name  Christian  tell  us  what  they  were  called  prior  to 
this?  The  Bible  says  they  were  called  "saints." 

Fourth.  Christ  said,  "I  will  build  my  church."  If  the 
church  is  his,  it  must  bear  his  name.  The  angel  said  to  Joseph, 
"Thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus;"  and  Paul  speaks  or  "Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named."  His  church  or  family  on  earth  to-day,  would 
therefore  be  the  "Church  of  Jesus  Christ,"  composed  of 
"Latter  Day  Saints." 

Fifth.  All  Protestants  concede  that  the  original  church 
was  disorganized,  hence  the  necessity  for  a  restoration. 

Owing  to  the  usurpation  of  church  power  by  Brigham 
Young,  still  another  reorganization  was  necessary,  hence  our 
church  is  very  properly  called  the  "Reorganized  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints."  It  is  said  that  when  you 
stand  before  the  bar  of  God  you  will  not  be  asked,  "Are  you  a 
Methodist,  Baptist,  Episcopalian,  Lutheran,  Christian,  or 
Adventist?"  If  you  are  a  saint  you  will  be  acceptable,  and  you 
cannot  be  a  saint  unless  you  belong  to  the  "Church  of  Jesus 
Christ,"  which  is  composed  of  saints. 

ORIGIN   OF  THE   CHURCH. 

Reader,  are  you  a  church  member?  If  not,  are  you  desirous 
of  becoming  one?  If  so,  carefully  consider  the  origin  of  each 
church  before  you  venture  to  ally  yourself  with  any.  Accept 
only  that  which  bears  the  stamp  of  divine  approval. 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  3 

In  the  year  1820,  Joseph  Smith  attended  a  union  revival 
meeting;  and  his  religious  nature  responding  to  the  fervent 
appeal  tor  service,  while  thinking  and  studying  the  Bible  in  an 
endeavor  to  solve  the  question  as  to  which  of  the  churches  was 
right,  he  read: 

If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to  all  men 
liberally,  and  upbraideth  not;  and  it  shall  be  given  him.— James  1:5. 

It  seems  that  God,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  witnessed  to  this 
humble  seeker  the  truth  of  the  above  promise.  Repairing  to 
the  seclusion  of  a  near-by  forest,  he  poured  out!  his  soul  to  God 
in  earnest  supplication  for  divine  light.  His  prayer  was 
answered,  and  he  was  told  not  to  unite  with  the  churches,  as 
their  creeds  were  not  acceptable  to  God  and  that  they  taught 
"for  doctrines  the  commandments  of  men,"  "having  a  form  of 
godliness  but  denying  the  power  thereof." 

CREED  REVISION. 

Only  eighty  years  have  passed  since  this  angelic  message 
was  given,  and  nearly  every  church  in  Christendom  is  already 
unwittingly  a  witness  to  the  truthfulness  of  the  above  statement. 
What  with  creed  revision  and  an  adaptation  of  church  rule  and 
worship  in  an  attempt  to  suit  the  opinions  of  this  advanced  age 
there  is  scarcely  a  church  which  has  not  changed  front. 

The  adherents  of  these  institutions  must  take  one  of  two 
positions.  If  they  contend  that  Joseph  Smith  was  wrong  and 
their  creeds  then  correct,  then  they  are  in  error  now.  If  they 
affirm  that  their  creed  is  now  correct,  then  the  statement  made 
by  the  angel  to  Joseph  Smith  is  sustained. 

RESTORATION     VERSUS   REFORMATION. 

That  a  revision  ot  creed  has  been  necessary  evidences  the 
hnman  origin  of  these  churches.  God's  work  never  admits  of 
reform  or  revision.  Men  and  their  institutions  can  very 
properly  be  reformed,  but  God  and  his  work  never.  When  the 
church  so  far  departs  from  the  divine  schedule  as  to  admit  of 
reform,  authority  is  withdrawn  and  darkness  reigns.  A  recom- 
mitment of  divine  power  and  a  restoration  of  gospel  truth  and 
the  blessings  which  attended  the  same  in  the  early  church  is 
the  only  way  out  of  the  "wilderness." 

CHURCH   ORGANIZATION. 

September,  1823,  Joseph  Smith  had  another  vision,  outlining 
the  work  to  be  done. 

April  6,  1830,  the  church  was  duly  organized  and  immedi- 
ately God  began  to  confirm  the  believers  "with  signs  folio  wing." 
Under  this  divine  bequeathment  an  unparalleled  growth  fol- 
lowed, and  in  fourteen  years  the  church  had  grown  from  a  mem- 
bership of  six  to  two  hundred  thousand. 


4  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

APOSTASY. 

Then  the  enemy  seemed  to  temporarily  triumph;  Joseph 
Smith  and  his  brother  Hyrum  were  massacred  by  a  mob  at 
Carthage,  Illinois,  on  June  27,  1844. 

Joseph  Smith  had  previously  appointed  and  set  apart  his 
eldest  son  to  succeed  him  as  president  of,  and  prophet  to  the 
church,  in  harmony  with  the  la\\o  and  usages  governing  therein. 
At  the  death  of  Joseph  Smith  his  son  was  but  a  lad,  and  unable 
to  assert  his  rights  and  thus  preserve  the  organic  law  of  the 
church.  At  an  opportune  moment  Brigham  Young  assumed  the 
rights  of  church  government  in  violation  of  church  law  and  order. 
Though  the  church  membership  numbered  about  two  hundred 
thousand,  not  more  than  one  tenth  gave  credence  to  his  claims. 
SUCCESSION. 

The  Lord,  in  1831  gave  a  revelation  as  follows:  "There  is 
none  other  appointed  unto  you  to  receive  commandments  and 
revelations  until  he  be  taken,"  and  that  "none  else  shall  be 
appointed  unto  this  gift  except  it  be  through  him  [Joseph]."  In 
every  respect  this  was  fulfilled  as  to  Joseph's  son,  Joseph,  who 
is  now  the  president  of  the  Reorganized  Church. 

When  Joseph  Smith  was  confined  in  Liberty  Jail,  Missouri, 
he  laid  his  hands  on  his  son  and  said  that  son  should  be  his 
successor.  Again  was  this  confirmed  "in  the  council  room  in 
the  brick  store  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,"  and  in  the  "last 
interview  Joseph  Smith  held  with  his  family  before  he  left 
Nauvoo  to  his  death."  Also  "A  public  attestation  of  the  same 
blessing  was  made  from  the  stand  in  the  grove  in  Nauvoo,  some 
time  prior  to  the  murder  at  Carthage  [Illinois]." — Saints*  Herald* 
vol.  14,  p.  105. 

How  was  it  with  Brigham  Young?  At  Joseph's  death  only 
two  members  of  the  two  leading  quorums  of  the  church  were  in 
Nauvoo.  When  the  remainder  returned,  the  Saints  in  a  public 
meeting  held  August  8,  1844,  voted  to  support  the  "  Twelve  in 
their  calling."  (See  Times  and  Seasons,  vol.  5,  p.  638.)  This  in 
no  sense  made  Brigham  Young  president  of  the  church. 

In  the  Times  and  Seasons,  for  September  2,  which  contained 
the  minutes  of  this  meeting,  the  editor,  John  Taylor,  a  member 
of  the  Quorum  of  Twelve  Apostles,  and  subsequently  president 
of  the  Utah  church,  stated,  "When  any  alteration  in  the  presi- 
dency shall  be  required,  seasonable  notice  will  be  given." — Ibid., 
vol.  5,  p.  632. 

On  December  5,  1847,  a  council  of  seven  of  the  Twelve 
Apostles  was  held  at  Winter  Quarters,  where  the  body  of  those 
who  adhered  to  Brigham  Young's  claims  had  repaired,  on  their 
way  to  the  West.  Here  "Brigham  Young  was  nominated  to  be 
the  first  president  of  the  church,  and  he  nominated  Heber  C. 
Kimball  and  Willarrl  Richards  to  be  his  two  counselors."— Mil- 
lennial Star,  vol.  10,  p.  114.  These  quotations  are  made  from 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  5 

their  own  works.  Besides  the  three  who  were  personally  inter- 
ested, but  four  others  of  the  Quorum  of  Twelve  Apostles  were 
present  to  vote  on  this  important  matter. 

This  action  was  presented  to  these  members  at  Winter  Quar- 
ters and  adopted  Dec.  24,  just  nineteen  days  later.  Was  this 
"seasonable  notice"?  Brigham  Young's  ardent  supporters  do 
not  claim  over  one  thousand  people  at  this  meeting.  The  gen- 
eral church  numbered  about  two  hundred  thousand.  Was  one 
.  thousand  members  a  representative  portion  of  the  entire  body? 
Considering  the  means  of  communication  and  transportation  at 
that  time,  was  nineteen  days  "seasonable  notice,"  to  all  of  the 
church  then  scattered  over  two  continents? 

Thus  Brigham  Young,  by  the  confession  of  his  own  his- 
torians was  nominated  by  men.  Not  the  slightest  proof  has 
been  offered  in  favor  of  his  divine  appointment  to  this  office. 
Brigham  Young  himself  said: 

Who  ordained  me  to  be  First  President  of  this  church  on  earth?  I 
answer,  It  is  the  choice  of  this  people,  and  that  is  sufficient.— MILLEN- 
NIAL STAR,  vol.  16,  p.  442. 

This  assumption  of  power  demoralized  the  majority  of  the 
church.  They  were  like  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  refusing 
absolutely  to  listejj  to  Brigham 's  assumptive  plea.  Some  branch- 
es continued  as  before,  and  in  due  time  the  Holy  Spirit  indicated 
to  those  holding  the  Melchisedec  priesthood  that: 

Polygamy  is  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  God:  it  is  not  of 
me;  I  abhor  it.  .  .  .  Be  ye  strong;  ye  shall  contend  against  thisdoctrine. 
many  will  be  led  into  it  honestly  for  the  Devil  will  seek  to  establish  it, 
and  r9ll  it  forth  to  deceive.  They  seek  to  build  up  their  own  kingdoms, 
to  suit  their  own  pleasures,  but  I  countenance  it  not,  saith  God.— 
SAINTS'  HERALD,  vol.  1,  p.  53. 

REORGANIZATION. 

These  were  subsequently  directed  of  the  Lord  to  appoint  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  to  come  together  for  instruction 
They  did  so  and  received  the  following: 

It  is  my  will  that  you  respect  authority  in  my  church;  therefore  let 
the  greatest  among  you  preside  at  your  conference. 

Their  first  organization  was  in  1852. 

They  proceeded  step  by  step  in  harmony  with  the  provisions 
of  God's  law  found  in  the  Bible  and  the  revelations  given  to 
the  church,  until  April  6,  1860,  at  a  General  Conference  of 
the  church  Joseph  Smith,  the  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet, 
presented  himself  as  he  said,  "In  obedience  to  a  power  not 
my  own,"  and  was  ordained  to  the  office  of  the  president  of  the 
Melchisedec  priesthood. 

The  Reorganized  church  in  keeping  with  the  teachings  of 
the  original  church  has  ever  been  a  friend  to  virtue  and  a  foe  to 
vice,  and  has  stood  for  primitive  Christianity  as  portrayed  in 
the  New  Testament  Scriptures. 


6  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

DIFFERENCES 

First.  As  to  the  organic  form  of  the  church  we  have  shown 
that  Brigham  Young  was  a  usurper,  while  Joseph  Smith,  presi- 
dent of  the  Reorganized  Church,  was  ordained  according  to  law. 
The  established  law  of  the  Lord  as  regards  leadership,  provided 
that  Joseph  Smith's  successor  should  be  "called  of  God," 
"chosen  by  the  body,"  "appointed  and  ordained  unto  that 
office."  This  was  never  true  of  Brigham  Young. 

Second.  Church  doctrine.  The  church  organized  by  Joseph 
Smith  in  1830,  and  of  which  the  Reorganized  Church  stands  in 
true  succession,  taught  a  belief  in  the  God  of  the  Bible.  The 
Bible  says,  "Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me.  '  *  Christ 
said  ,  "  I  and  my  Father  are  one.  '  '  The  Book  of  Mormon  teaches 
that: 


They  arc  one  Grotf,  yea,  the  very  eternal  Father  of  heaven  and  of 
earth.—  Book  of  Mormon,  p.  151,  large  edition. 

In  a  revelation  to  the  church  is  the  following: 

There  is  a  God  in  heaven  who  is  infinite  and  eternal,  from  everlast- 
ing to  everlasting  the  same  unchangeable  God,  the  framer  of  heaven 
and  earth  and  all  things  which  are  in  them.—  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants 17:4. 

Brigham  Young  taught  that  Adam  is  our  God,  for  he  said: 

He  [Adam]  is  our  Father  and  our  God  and  the  only  God  with  whom 
we  have  to  do.—  JOURNAL  OF  DISCOURSES,  vol.  1,  p.  so. 

Third.     *  *  Thou  shalt  not  kill.  '  '—Bible. 
The  Book  of  Mormon  says: 

And  again,  the  Lord  God  hath  commanded  that  men  should  not 
murder.  —  Page  87,  paragraph  62,  large  edition. 

The  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  which  contains  the  revelation 
of  God  through  Joseph  Smith,  says: 

Thou  shalt  not  kill;  and  he  that  kills  shall  not  have  forgiveness  in 
this  world,  nor  in  the  world  to  come.—  Sec.  42,  par.  6. 

Brigham  Young  taught  blood  -atonement,  which  was   cold- 
blooded murder.     He  said: 

Will  you  love  your  brothers  and  sisters  likewise,  when  they  have 
committed  a  sin  that  cannot  be  atoned  for  without  the  shedding  of 
their  blood?  Will  you  love  that  man  or  woman  enough  to  shed  their 
blood?  JOURNAL  OF  DISCOURSES,  vol.  4,  p.  219. 

Again: 

I  have  seen  scores  and  hundreds  of  people  for  whom  there  would 
have  been  a  chance  (in  the  last  resurrection  there  will  be)  if  their  lives 
had  been  taken  and  their  blood  spilled  on  the  ground  as  a  smoking 
insense  to  the  Almighty.  ...  I  have  known  a  great  many  men  who  have 
left  this  church,  for  whom  there  is  no  chance  whatever  for  exultation. 
but  if  their  blood  had  been  spilled,  it  would  have  been  better  for  them. 
The  wickedness  and  ignorance  of  the  nations  forbid  this  principle 
being  in  full  force,  but  the  time  will  come  when  the  law  of  God  will  be 
in  full  force.  This  is  loving  our  neighbors  as  ourselves;  if  he  'needs 
help,  help  him;  and  if  he  wants  salvation  and  it  is  necessary  to  spill 
his  olood  on  the  earth  in  order  that  he  may  be  saved,  spill  it.—  JOURNAL 
OF  DISCOURSES,  vol.  4,  p.  220. 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  7 

Fourth.     Polygamy. 

The  Book  of  Mormon  says: 

There  shall  not  any  man  among  you  have  save  it  be  one  wife:  and 
concubines  he  shall  have  none.— Jacob  2:6. 

The  Reorganized  Church  has  ever  opposed  polygamy  while 
the  Brighamite  organization  has,  and  does  now,  both  teach  and 

gractice  it.     Only  a  short  while  ago  the  now  deceased  Lorenzo 
now  pleaded  guilty  to  "unlawful  cohabitation,"  and  was  duly 
fined  by  the  court.     This  act  alone  branded  him  as  an  apostate 
from  the   faith  established  by  Joseph   Smith,    for    God    said 
through  him: 

Let  no  man  break  the  laws  of  the  land,  for  he  that  keepth  the  hws 
of  God  hath  no  need  to  break  the  laws  of  the  land.— Doctrine  and 
Covenants  58:5 

The  Brighamites  claim  that  polygamy  was  introduced  by 
Joseph  Smith  in  1843,  but  it  was  not  until  1852  that  Brigham 
Young  publicly  proclaimed  the  doctrine  as  a  tenet  of  faith,  and 
then  tried  to  fasten  it  on  Joseph  Smith.  Time  and  justice  have 
demonstrated  his  duplicity,  and  Brigham  Young  stands  forth  as 
its  true  originator;  its  self-confessed  author.  When  the  accursed 
thing  became  fairly  popular  in  the  Territory  he  fathered  it  him- 
self. He  said: 

While  we  were  in  England,  in  1839  and  '40  I  think,  the  Lord  mani- 
fested to  me  by  vision  and  his  Spirit,  things  that  I  did  not  understand. 
I  never  opened  my  mouth  to  any  one  concerning  them,  until  I  returned 
toNauvoo.  Joseph  had  never  mentioned  this;  there  never  had  been  a 
thought  of  it  in  the  church  that  I  eyer  knew  anything  about  at  that  time 
but  I  had  this  for  myself  and  kept  it  to  myself.  And  when  I  returned 
home  and  Joseph  revealed  these  things  to  me,  then  I  understood  the 
reflections  that  were  npon  my  mind  while  in  England.  But  this  was 
not  until  after  I  had  told  him  what  I  understood— this  was  in  1841.  The 
revelation  was  given  in  1843,  but  the  doctrine  was  revealed  before  this. 
— DESERET  NEWS,  'July  i,  1874. 

John  Taylor,  afterwards  president  of  the  church,  said  as 
late  as  July  11,  1850,  in  Bouiogne-sur-Mer,  France. 

We  are  accused  here  of  polygamy,  and  actions  the  most  indelicate, 
obscene,  and  disgusting,  such  that  none  but  a  depraved  heart  could 
have  contrived.— See  Taylor's  Discussion  in  Orson  Pratt's  Works,  p.  8. 

When  Brigham  Young  was  interviewed  by  United  States 
Senator  Trumbull  in  1869,  he  said: 

As  to  our  institutions,  we  know  we  are  right,  and  polygamy,  which 
you  object  to,  was  not  ogiginally  a  part  of  our  system,  but  was  adcpted 
by  us  as  a  necessity,  after  we  came  here. — ALTA  CALIFORNIAN. 

George  Q.  Cannon  said: 

Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith  were  slain  in  Carthage  jail,  and  hundreds 
of  persons  were  persecuted  to  the  death  previous  to  the  church  having 
any  knowledge  of  this  doctrine.— JOURNAL  OF  DISCOURSES,  vol.  14,  p.  166. 

Judge  John  F.  Phillips,  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United 
States,  in  his  famous  Temple  Lot  Decision,  at  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  says  of  polygamy: 

It  was  never  promulgated,  taught,  nor  recognized,  as  a  doctrine  of 
the  church  prior  to  the  assumption  of  Brigham  Young.— DECISION,  p.  26. 


8  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

A  like  decision  was  rendered  in  the  Kirtland  Temple  litiga- 
tion, the  court  granting  the  property  to  the  Reorganized  Church. 

The  Mormons  proclaim  Brigham  Young  a  prophet  of  God, 
and  defend  his  utterances.  They  are  sending  missionaries  over 
all  the  country,  who  carefully  avoid  reference  to  these  abomina- 
tions when  possible  and  try  to  ingratiate  themselves  into  the  con- 
fidence of  the  people  by  teaching  the  cardinal  principles  of  sal- 
vation to  which  no  true  Bible  believer  can  object.  This  confuses 
the  public  mind  and  causes  many  to  class  the  two  churches  as 
one.  The  Reorganized  Church  can  best  cope  with  these  people, 
meeting  them  on  their  own  ground,  and  exposing  their  general 
inconsistencies  by  showing  them  to  be  out  of  harmony  with 
the  Bible,  Book  of  Mormon,  and  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants. 
The  usual  tactics  adopted  by  the  ordinary  churchman  in  dealing 
with  these  people  are  reprehensible.  Persecutionis  not  of  God. 
Reason  is  the  torchlight  which  alone  can  save  men  from 
fanaticism,  intolerance,  and  bigotry. 

Fifth.     Blasphemy. 

The  "Mormons"  teach  that  God  has  a  wife;  that  we  have 
a  Mother  as  well  as  a  Father  in  heaven.  They  also  teach  that 
Christ  was  a  polygamist,  and  deny  his  immaculate  conception. 

Brigham  Young  said: 

When  our  Father  Adam  came  into  the  Garden  of  Eden,  he  came 
into  it  with  a  celestial  body,  and  brought  Eve,  one  of  his  wives,  with  him. 
He  helped  to  make  and  organize  this  world.  He  is  Michael,  the  Arch- 
angel, the  Ancient  of  days!  about  whom  holy  men  have  written  and 
spoken— He  is  our  Father  and  our  God,  and  the  only  God  with  whom 
we  have  to  do  .  .  .  when  the  Virgin  Mary  conceived  the  child  Jesus, 
the  Father  had  begotten  him  in  his  own  Likeness.  He  was  not  begotten 
by  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  who  is  the  Father?  He  is  the  first  of  the 
human  family.  .  .  .  Now  remember  from  this  time  forth,  and  forever, 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  not  begotten  by  the  Holy  Ghost.— JOURNAL  OF 
DISCOURSES,  vol.  i,  pp.  50, 51. 

Lorenzo  Snow,  in  an  article  written  just  a  few  days  before 
he  died,  said: 

Since  a  Mormon  poetess  wrote  a  hymn  invocation  to  the  Eternal 
Father  and  Mother,  it  has  dawned  upon  many  Christian  minds  as  a 
reasonable  proposition  that  we  have  a  Mother  as  well  as  a  Father  in 
heaven.— LAND  OF  SUNSHINE,  October,  1901,  p.  258, 

The  Bible  teaches: 

Now  the  birth  of  Jesus  Christ  was  on  this  wise :  when  as  his  mother 
Mary  was  espoused  to  Joseph,  before  they  came  together,  she  was  found 
with  child  of  the  Holy  Ghost.— Matthew  1:18. 

The  Lord  speaking  through  Joseph  Smith  said: 

I  am  the  true  light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world;  .  .  .  I  am  in  the  Fathe  and  the  Father  in  me,  and  the  Father 
and  I  are  one;  the  Father  because  he  gave  me  of  his  fulness;  and  the 
Son  because  I  was  in  the  world  ana  made  flesh  my  tabernacle,  and 
dwelt  among  the  sons  of  men.— DOCTRINE  AND  COVENANTS  90:1. 

The  Book  of  Mormon  before  Christ's  time  said  of  him: 

And  behold  he  shall  be  born  of  Mary  at  Jerusalem,  which  is  the  land 
of  our  forefathers,  she  being  a  virgin,  a  precious  andchosen  vessel,  who 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  9 

shall  be  overshadowed,  and  conceived  by  the  power  of  the  Holy- 
Ghost,  and  bring  forth  a  Son,  yea,  even  the  Son  of  God.— Page  196,  para 
graph  9,  large  edition. 

Brigham  Young  said  that  Christ  was  not  born  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  The  Bible  and  the  Book  of  Mormon  say  that  he  was, 
Which  is  right? 

OUR    FAITH. 

First.  We  believe  in  God;  that  he  is  a  personal  beingf 
having  body,  parts,  and  passions;  that  he  is  unchangeable,  and 
no  respecter  of  persons;  and  that  he  is  a  rewarder  of  those  who 
diligently  seek  him.  So-called  orthodoxy  practically  denies  the 
personality  of  God,  affirming  that  he  has  neither  body  nor  parts 
and  by  their  creeds  make  him  both  partial  and  a  respecter 
of  persons  in  that  many  of  the  laws  which  were  operative  in 
Christ's  time  are  not  to  be  taught  now,  and  that  the  blessings 
and  gifts,  so  prevalent  then,  are  now  all  "done  away." 

Second.  We  believe  that  from  "before  the  foundation  of 
the  world"  Jesus  Christ  was  selected  to  become  an  intermediary 
for  the  sins  of  man.  The  Son  voluntarily  offered  himself  as  a 
sacrifice.  This  sacrifice  was  not  to  propitiate  God  but  to  reclaim 
man.  It  was  necessary  that  Christ  should  meet  the  enemy  on 
his  own  ground,  and,  as  a  redeemed  man,  wrest  from  him  the 
keys  of  death,  hell,  and  the  grave.  The  death  upon  the  cross 
was  not  the  end  but  the  means  of  salvation.  Death  was  the 
door  through  which  Christ  entered  to  wage  the  conflict  of  the 
ages.  So-called  orthodoxy  makes  the  cross  of  Christ  the  end, 
instead  of  the  means,  and  the  vicarious  atonement  virtually 
becomes  a  shield  for  every  sin,  and  a  cloak  for  all  the  moral 
turpitude  of  the  race;  whereas  the  atonement  is  of  no  practical 
utility  save  to  those  who  by  deeds  of  righteousness  acquit  them- 
selves before  the  final  tribunal.  We  repudiate  the  doctrine  of 
total  depravity,  likewise  infant  baptism,  for  the  atonement 
wipes  out  Adamic  sin.  All  children  are  heirs  of  the  kingdom  of 
God.  Christ  blessed  children,  but  neither  he  nor  his  disciples 
ever  baptized  them. 

John  the  Baptist  came  as  a  forerunnerjof  the  Master,  saying, 
"Repent  ye,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand." — Matthew 
3:1,  2.  And  he 

Did  baptize  in  the  wilderness,  and  preach  the  baptism  of  repentance 
for  the  remission  of  sins.— Mark  1:4. 

His  acts  were  legal,  for  the  record  says: 
There  was  a  man  sent  from  God  whose  name  was  John.— John  l  :6. 

When  Jesus  came  he  honored  the  authority  of  John  and 
was  baptized  of  him,  thus  placing  divine  approval  on  the  mode 
of  baptism  (immersion)  and  sanctioning  John's  contention  that 
it  was  "for  the  remission  of  sins." 


10  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

CHURCH     POLITY, 

Third.  Subsequent  to  this  Jesus  made  the  announcement, 
41 1  will  build  my  church."  (Matthew  16:18.)  His  first  move  in 
church  organization  was  the  selection  of  the  twelve  apostles,  and: 

He  gave  them  power  against  unclean  spirits,  to  cast  them  out,  and 
to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness  and  all  manner  of  diseases.— Matthew 
10:1. 

Also  telling  them  that: 

Whatsoever  ye  shall  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven;  and 
whatsoever  ye  shall  loose  on  earth  shall  be  loosed  in  heaven.— Matthew 
is:  is. 

As  to  the  complete  church  polity,  Paul  tells  us  that: 

God  has  set  some  in  the  church,  first  apostles,  secondarily  prophets, 
thirdly  teachers,  after  that  miracles,  then  gifts  of  healing,  helps,  gov- 
ernments, diversities  of  tongues.— 1  Corinthians  12=28. 

And  in  Ephesians  4: 11-44  he  discloses  what  they  were 
placed  there  for,  apd  how  long  these  offices  were  to  remain  in 
the  church: 

And  he  gave  some,  apostles;  and  some,  prophets;  and  some,  evange 
lists;  and  some,  pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints. 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ:  till 
•we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of 
God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness 
of  Christ:  that  we  henceforth  be  no  more  children,  tossed  to  and  fro. 
and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of  men, 
and  cunning  craftiness,  whereby  they  lie  in  wait  to  deceive. 

If  Christ  has  a  church  on  the  earth  today,  you  will  find  all 
the  above-named  officers  in  it.  There  can  be  no  true  church  of 
God  on  earth  without  divine  authority.  Said  authority  cannot 
be  possessed  by  man  save  through  divine  conferment,  and 
God  cannot  confer  it  save  he  reveal  himself  to  man.  This  fully 
necessitates  present  revelation.  This  point  is  denied  by  nearly 
all  "orthodox"  churches  today. 

Reader,  are  you  a  member  of  any  church?  If  so,  are  there 
enrolled  on  its  official  roster  all  the  officers  enumerated  above? 
If  not,  why  not?  It  will  not  do  to  argue  that  God  never  intended 
the  office  of  apostle  or  prophet  to  be  a  perpetual  office,  for 
according  to  the  Scriptures  as  soon  as  one  of  the  apostles  died 
another  was  selected  to  take  his  place.  (See  Acts  1:23-26;  13:2; 
14:14;  Galatians  1:18;  1  Thessalonians  1:1.) 

If  God  placed  these  various  officers  in  the  church,  he  alone 
can  remove  them.  The  apostolic  and  prophetic  offices  were  of 
paramount  importance  if  the  New  Testament  is  to  be  relied  upon. 
Everything  goes  to  show  that  these  officers  were  perpetual.  It 
would  seem  like  folly  for  an  earthly  potentate  to  proceed  in  the 
establishment  of  his  kingdom,  creating  offices  and  appointing 
officers,  defining  their  work  and  specially  showing  their  necessity 
in  the  expansion  of  the  kingdom,  likewise  in  the  development 
and  instruction  of  the  subjects,  and  then,  without  a  moment's 
notice,  change  the  whole  order  of  his  kingdom  and  destroy  all 
the  important  offices  in  his  realm,  at  the  same  time  introducing 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  11 

nothing  to  take  their  places!  Is  God  less  prudent  than  man? 
Not  one  word  has  ever  come  from  the  mouth  of  God  that  could 
be  construed  as  a  hint  that  all  of  the  officers  enumerated  by 
Paul  in  his  Corinthian  and  Ephesian  letters  were  not  perpetual. 

Fourth.     Doctrine. 

In  doctrine  we  agree  with  the  New  Testament  church. 
Paul  defines  the  gospel  as  being  the  "power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion," and  enumerates  the  gospel  principles  as  follows: 

Therefore  leaving  the  principles  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  let  us  go 
on  unto  perfection;  npt  laying  again  the  foundation  of  repentance  from 
dead  works,  and  of  faith  toward  God,  of  the  doctrine  of  baptisms,  and 
of  laying  on  of  hands,  and  of  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  of  eternal 
judgment.— Hebrews  6:1,  2- 

And  to  emphasize  this  he  said: 

Though  we,  or  an  angel  from  heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel  unto 
you  than  that  which  we  have  preached  unto  you,  let  him  be  accursed. — 
Galatians  1:8. 

The  gospel  to  which  Paul  here  referred  came  in  "power,  and 
in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance."  (1  Thess  1:5). 
"Power,"  in  that  the  men  who  presented  it  were  commissioned, 
recognized  from  high  heaven.  "In  the  Holy  Ghost,"  because 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  was  bestowed  upon  the  obedient 
believer;  "in  much  assurance,"  for  signs  followed  them  that 
believed. 

If  the  church  of  which  you  are  a  member  teaches  faith, 
repentance,  baptism  by  immersion  for  the  remission  of  sins,  the 
laying  on  of  hands  for  the  reception  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  for 
blessing  of  children,  for  ordination  and  for  healing  the  sick;  if 
its  organic  policy  is  identical  with  the  one  Christ  established;  if 
God  confirms  with  signs  following  the  truthfulness  of  your  claims 
then  so  far  you  are  sound  in  the  faith;  if  not,  it  behooves  you 
to  unite  with  that  organization  which  comes  up  to  these  require- 
ments. 

We  do  not  believe  in  making  death-bed  repentance  the  rule, 
and  virtue  in  life  the  exception.  We  discourage  procrastination 
and  make  death-bed  repentance  the  exception,  if  at  all  possible  ^ 
and  emphasize  gospel  obedience  and  virtue  in  life  as  the  means 
which  secures  to  man  his  passport  to  the  haven  of  rest.  We 
have  no  sympathy  with  this  unwarranted  hobby,  "Jesus  paid  it 
all;  we  can  do  nothing  for  ourselves."  Paul  says: 

Work  out  your  own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling. — Philippians 
2:12. 

We  read  nowhere  in  the  Bible  that  men  are  to  be  judged 
according  to  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  but  everywhere  we  learn 
that  men  "are  to  be  judged  according  to  their  works." 

We  believe  in  the  literal  second  coming  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
reign  upon  the  earth  a  thousand  years  known  as  the  millennial 
era. 


12  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

We  likewise  believe  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  both  the 
just  and  the  unjust.  The  righteous  dead  will  come  forth  at 
Christ's  coming,  the  wicked  after  the  thousand  years'  reign. 

We  believe  in  eternal  judgment.  All  men  will  be  judged  for 
the  deeds  done  in  the  body,  and  rewarded  or  punished  accord- 
ingly. \Ye  are  opposed  to  the  so-called  "Holiness  movement," 
the  votaries  of  which  claim  that  they  do  not  sin.  Men  are 
"justified"  by  obeying  the  truth;  they  are  "sanctified"  by  the 
word  of  God. 

While  affirming  that  the  Bible  contains  the  word  of  God  so 
far  as  it  is  translated  correctly,  yet  we  seriously  object  to  the 
presumption  of  self-styled  orthodoxy  to-day  in  making  it  the 
alpha  and  omega  of  God's  revelations  to  man.  The  canon  of 
scripture  is  not  full.  If  the  history  of  the  past  is  a  safe  index  of 
present  divine  action,  wherever  God  has  a  people  on  earth  he 
will  manifest  himself  to  them. 

Christ  said  unto  his  apostles: 

Go  ye  into  all  the  wprld..and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature. 
He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth 
not  shall  be  damned.  And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that  believe; 
in  my  name  shall  they  cast  out  devils;  they  shall  speak  with  new 
tongues;  they  shall  take  up  serpents;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly 
thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them;  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick,  and  they 
shall  recover.— Mark  16:15-18. 

These  signs  will  follow  the  believer  in  every  age.  Do  they 
follow  the  members  of  the  church  to  which  you  belong?  Do  the 
ministers  of  your  church  teach  these  things?  If  not,  then  you 
are  not  where  God  intended  you  to  be.  Faith  Curists  and 
Christian  Scientists  who  arrogate  to  themselves  the  power  to 
represent  Christ,  but  who  ignore  the  prerequisites  and  provisions 
for  said  service  are  too  frequently  a  delusion  and  a  snare  to  the 
honest  and  unsuspecting.  Remember  signs  '  'follow'  *  the  believers . 

Paul  in  1  Corinthians  12  enumerates  nine  spiritual  gifts  which 
were  and  are  to  be  the  heritage  of  the  children  of  God.  He 
enumerates  these  gifts  as  follows:  Word  of  wisdom,  word  of 
knowledge,  faith,  the  gift  of  healing,  working  of  miracles,  pro- 
phecy, discerning  of  spirits,  diveis  kinds  of  tongues,  interpreta- 
tion of  tongues.  Do  you  have  these  gifts  among  you?  Does  the 
spirit  which  operates  among  you  give  these  gifts  as  "he  wills?" 
If  not,  then  renounce  said  spirit,  for  it  is  a  delusion  and  not  of 
God. 

This  was  the  character  of  the  early  church,  but  through 
ambition  and  the  fear  of  the  world,  men  apostatized  from  the 
faith  and  the  church  was  disorganized. 

APOSTASY   AND   RESTORATION. 

This  was  clearly  in  fulfillment  of  prophecy,  for  Christ  had 
said: 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  13 

And  from  the  days  of  John  the  Baptist  until  now  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  suffereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force.— Matthew 
11:12. 

Paul  said: 

For  I  know  this,  that  after  my  departing  shall  grievous  wolves  enter 
in  among  you,  not  sparing  the  flock.  Also  of  your  own  selves  shall  men 
arise  speaking  perverse  things,  to  draw  away  disciples  after  thorn.— 
Acts  20:29,  30. 

Also: 

Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any  means:  for  that  day  shall  not  come, 
except  there  come  a  falling  away  first.— 2  Thessalonians  2:3. 

Again: 

For  the  time  will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  sound  doctrine; 
but  after  their  own  lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves  teachers,  having 
itching  ears;  and  they  shall  turn  away  their  ears  from  the  truth  and 
shall  be  turned  unto  fables-— 2  Timothy  4:3,  4. 

In  Revelation  12:1-6,  John  gives  a  graphic  description  of  this 
apostasy.  After  showing  how  the  church  would  be  disorganized 
or  "go  into  the  wilderness,"  he  portrays  the  restoration  of  the 
gospel  in  these  words: 

And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the 
everlasting  gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and 
to  every  nation,  and,  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  saying  with  a 
loud  voice.  Fear  God,  and  give  glory  to  him;  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment 
is  come.— Revelation  14:6,  7. 

This  angel  did  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  and  delivered  the 
keys,  power,  and  authority  of  the  everlasting  gospel  to  Joseph 
Smith.  This  gospel  we  present  to  you  asking  only  that  you  give 
it  thorough  investigation;  and  should  you  find  that  it  is  in  har- 
mony with  the  church  established  by  Jesus  Christ,  we  invite  you 
to  become  one  with  us. 

The  Apostle  said: 

Prove  all  things;  hold  fast  that  which  is  good.— 1  Thessalonians  5:21. 

Reader,  do  not  turn  away  from  our  plea  because  the  popu- 
lace are  opposed  to  us,  for  Jesus  has  said: 

Strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way  which  leadeth  unto  life 
and  few  there  be  that  find  it,— Matthew  7 :14. 

Do  not  decide  against  us  because  everywhere  we  are  spoken 
evil  against,  for  Jesus  said: 

Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall  revile  vou.  and  persecute  you,  and 
shall  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  falsely,  for  my  sake,  Rejoice, 
and  be  exceeding  glad;  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven:  for  so  perse- 
cuted they  the  prophets  which  were  before  you.— Matthew  5:11,  12. 

Also: 

The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord.  If  they  have  persecuted 
me,  they  will  also  persecute  you.— John  15:20. 

Do  not  say  that  all  Latter  Day  Saints  are  bad  because  some 
went  out  from  us  and  taught  and  practiced  abominations.  This 
was  also  true  of  the  early  church  of  Christ.  Some  of  the 
branches  of  that  church  went  into  polygamy  and  other  abomi- 
nations. 


14  THE  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS; 

Neither  will  it  do  to  contend  that  one  church  is  just  as  good 
as  another,  for  Paul  says: 

There  is  one  body,  and  one  Spirit,  even  as  ye  are  called  in  one  hope 
of  your  calling:.— Ephesians  4:4. 

And  Christ  prayed : 

That  they  all  may  be  one.— John  17:21. 

He  also  said: 

If  ye  are  not  one  ye  are  not  mine. 

The  church  organization  that  is  acceptable  to  God  will  bear 
the  name  of  "Jesus  Christ,"  and  the  people  will  be  called 
"Saints,"  hence  the  name  may  be  "The  Reorganized  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints." 

People  in  all  of  the  churches  may  be  equally  honest,  but 
honest  intent  does  not  make  an  error  right,  and  sincerity  in 
division  does  not  take  the  place  of  harmony  with  God.  There 
is  only  "ONE  Lord,  ONE  faith,  ONE  baptism."  When  we  are  in 
harmony  with  that  "one  faith"  then  we  are  in  favor  with  God. 

It  will  not  do  to  urge  that  the  church  will  not  save  a  man. 
We  cheerfully  concede  that  church  membership  alone  will  not; 
but  the  Bible  clearly  shows  that  a  man  must  be  a  citizen  of  the 
kingdom  of  God  to  be  saved.  The  Bible  says: 

He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved.— Mark  16:16. 

The  Reorganized  Church  stands  for  primitive  Christianity 
with  all  its  officers,  principles,  gifts,  and  blessings;  and  contends 
that  the  enforcement  of  the  ethical  and  spiritual  teachings  of 
Christ  is  the  only  thing  which  will  bring  "peace  on  earth,  good 
will  to  men." 

We  oppose  the  doctrine  of  election  and  predestination  as  often 
taught  and  maintain  that  God  wills  that  all  men  may  be  saved. 

If  in  doubt  as  to  the  course  you  should  pursue  ask  God  for 
wisdom,  and  in  purview  of  his  promise,  move  out  and  accept 
that  doctrine  which  is  in  harmony  with  the  New  Testament 
Scriptures  and  put  him  to  the  test  wherein  he  says: 

If  any  man  will  do  his  will  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether 
it  be  of  God  or  whether  I  speak  of  myself.— John  7:17. 

God  has  confirmed  his  promises  to  us  and  we  bear  our  testi- 
mony that  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  is  true  and  that  we  know 
ae  has  restored  his  gospel  in  these  latter  days  by  the  hands  of  an 
angel ;  that  the  Reorganized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter 
Day  Saints  is  accepted  of  him  and  those  who  go  forth  with 
humility  of  heart  and  with  an  eye  single  to  the  glory  of  God, 
complying  with  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel  will  receive  a  knowl- 
edge whereby  they  may  cry  "Abba  Father." 

Much  fear  is  expressed  in  many  quarters  that  the  "Mor- 
mons" are  secretly  plotting  to  hold  the  balance  of  power  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  by  building  up  colonies  in  the 
various  doubtful  States.  Unfortunately  and  unfairly  the  leading 


WHO  ARE  THEY?  15 

actors  in  this  crusade  against  the  "  Mormons' '  make  no  distinction 
between  the  Utah  contingency  and  the  Reorganized  Church.  To 
show  that  this  opinion  of  our  people  is  unwarranted  we  quote 
from  our  standard  church  Jaw: 

We  do  not  believe  it  just  to  mingle  religious  influence  with 
civil  government,  whereby  one  religious  society  is  fostered  and  another 
proscribed  in  its  spiritual  privileges,  and  the  individual  rights  of  its 
members,  as  citizens,  denied-— Doctrine  and  Covenants  112:9. 

We  believe  that  all  men  are  bound  to  sustain  and  uphold  the 
respective  governments  in  which  they  reside.— Doctrine  and  Covenants 
112:5. 

Let  no  man  break  the  laws  of  the  land,  for  he  that  keepeth  the 
laws  of  God  hath  no  need  to  break  the  laws  ot  the  land.— Doctrine  and 
Covenants  58:5. 


